James J. Peter, Jr. was born on August 15, 1915 in Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois. He was the son of James John Peter, Sr. and Anna Marie Zabran. James served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Sergeant in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He died on June 18, 1944 and is now buried in Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. He also has a cenotaph located in Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA.